Kentish Football 
Ryman Reports: Walker: Things are looking great for us
Maidstone United 3-1 Hastings United
Goals from Alex Tiesse, Lynden Rowland and Ryan Royston saw The Stones complete their first Ryman League One double at the expense of Hastings United.
Thanks to the recent inclement weather, this was only the fourth fixture Maidstone had played in seven weeks but despite this, they managed to bring an end to Hastings’ nine match unbeaten league run.
However, it was the visitors who enjoyed the majority of possession for the first 60 minutes of this game yet they found themselves trailing by two goals at the break.
With just 16 minutes played, James Sims hauled Mario McNish to the floor as Aaron Lacy sent over a free-kick and Tiesse converted the resultant penalty.
McNish then almost immediately gifted Hastings an equaliser when he accidentally headed Danny Ellis’ cross towards goal but fortunately the ball bounced off the bar.
By now, Hastings were clearly the dominant side but for all their possession, they couldn’t test Pat Mullin in The Stones’ goal and with the game in first half stoppage time, an excellent break led to Maidstone stretching their lead.
Tiesse won the ball in midfield and his flick sent Nick Hegley racing down the left hand side and crossing for Rowland to bundle the ball over the line.
The early part of the second half continued in a similar vein and within two minutes of the restart, Maidstone were desperately unlucky to concede a goal when Royston’s attempted clearance rocketed against Nathan Paul’s stomach and into the net.
Just as it seemed as if The Stones would be overwhelmed by Hastings’ pressure, Maidstone grabbed a vital third goal on 64 minutes.
Aaron Lacy hurled an excellent long throw into the box and it landed straight on Royston’s head before flying past the helpless Lee Worgan.
This goal seemed to knock the stuffing out of Hastings and from then on, with the exception of two efforts from substitute Russell Eldridge, the visitors rarely threatened to get back into the game.
So although The Stones have hardly played in recent weeks they are now unbeaten in seven games and manager Alan Walker was in a positive mood after the game.
He told www.maidstoneunited.co.uk: “The beauty of looking at things at the moment is we’ve got four fantastic strikers, four fantastic centre halves, we’ve got great competition in midfield, we’ve got people who can cover positions and we’ve got two great keepers.
“Things are looking great for us. The only thing I am concerned about is the fact that we have quite a few players on, or near, a suspension now but because we have a lot of competition for places I am hoping that will carry us through.”
Croydon Athletic 2-2 Chatham Town
With midweek changes being rung in the Chatham squad, new signings Ian Hilaire and Mike McKenna came straight into the side at Croydon Athletic and both made promising debuts, writes Neil Sanders.
The first half was goalless but both teams did create chances, the majority coming from set pieces.
Wayne Brown and Mark Brooks both came close from Chatham corners whilst Rob Denness shot just wide after picking up a loose ball just outside the box.
The home side looked dangerous when defenders James Gibson and Danny Young came forward.
Both went close from headers, the second from Young being hooked off the line by Danny Larkin following a corner.
Croydon Athletic opened the scoring three minutes after the break when Young stabbed the ball home from close range following another corner, although there was a suspicion that the Chats keeper had been impeded.
Chatham then started to create more space with some good passing and Brooks made a couple of useful runs on the left.
The first led to a half chance for McKenna but a strong tackle took the ball off his foot.
The second brought Chats a deserved equaliser. After a good build up, Brooks cut in and laid the ball back for Hilaire to slot home from 10 yards after 56 minutes.
Chatham thought they had taken the lead on the hour when a good run by Denness set up McKenna to finish at the far post.
The flag was up for offside although it appeared to be for Hilaire rather than McKenna.
The home side restored their lead after 76 minutes when a great turn and volley by Moses Ademola gave John Whitehouse no chance.
Chatham kept battling for another equaliser and got their reward with a minute remaining.
Another corner was only half cleared which enabled Danny Larkin to power in superb 20 yard volley.
This was certainly a vast improvement on the last two performances leaving everyone in a positive frame of mind at the end of the day.
Chatham Town: Whitehouse, Binks, King (Phillips 79), Larkin, Brown, Best, Smith, Brooks, Hilaire, Denness, McKenna. Subs: Whitnall, James.
Harrow Borough 0-2 Folkestone Invicta
First half goals from Ellis Remy and Luke Howell gave Folkestone Invicta 2-0 win away to Harrow Borough at a blustery Earlsmead on Saturday afternoon, writes Richard Murrill.
With the wind in their favour, Invicta completely dominated the opening 45 minutes to record a vital three points and move up to 15th in the Ryman Premier League table after a run of just two points out of a possible 21 had seen them slip close to the relegation zone.
Centre forward Remy moved clear as Invicta’s top goalscorer this season when he opened the scoring in the 27th minute as he headed in at the far post when James Everitt chipped the ball across from the right hand side of the penalty area after cutting back when receiving the ball from Kevin Watson.
Both Remy and Invicta centre half Samuel Kola Okikiolu had made solitary substitute appearances for Harrow as late substitutes in their 1-0 win at Invicta on the opening day of the season.
And Howell made it 2-0 in the 35th minute on his return from injury when he blasted the ball into the net from close range when striker Damian Abel played a low ball across from the right after a pass from Remy.
The return of Howell after a hamstring injury sustained in a December friendly against Gillingham, from whom the midfielder is on loan at Invicta, was a real bonus for Neil Cugley’s side.
Teenager Howell’s ability to break forward from midfield gives Invicta an extra dimension and with James Corbett again also showing class in the centre of the park, this was one of Invicta’s most complete performances of the season so far.
After a good start to the season, Harrow themselves are now on a terrible run, having lost 12 of their last 13 league matches, with just a solitary draw at Hendon on Boxing Day in a run stretching back to the middle of October.
Invicta took the game to their hosts from the start as an Abel shot was blocked by centre half Danny Leech in a move also involving Corbett and Remy after seven minutes.
Harrow’s Gary Meakin was booked for bringing down Abel in a central position on the edge of the penalty area four minutes later when Corbett and Remy were both involved again, along with Watson.
Home goalkeeper Craig Nicholson then had to touch the ball round the post when Remy tried his luck from 25 yards after 20 minutes.
Invicta were denied by a questionable offside decision after 23 minutes when Howell ran through to meet a Corbett ball.
But Remy’s goal was soon to put the visitors ahead when Harrow were temporarily down to ten men due to an injury.
Abel shot against the foot of the post after 28 minutes following a move involving James Everitt, Corbett and Remy as Invicta remained on top.
A glancing header from Remy briefly threatened top embarrass Nicholson after 29 minutes following a deep hanging cross from left back Paul Lamb.
But the Harrow goalkeeper made an outstanding save to keep out a close range Howell header after 32 minutes when Corbett crossed from the left after Howell himself had made a surging run down the right and played a one-two with Remy.
It was all Invicta as Howell made it 2-0 and Corbett shot wide after 38 minutes when strikers Abel and Remy combined as the Folkestone side’s confidence grew.
Howell shot at goalkeeper Nicholson during first half stoppage time when centre half Liam Friend played the ball up to Remy.
Invicta goalkeeper Tony Kessell did not have a save to make during the first half, but the second half was more even as Harrow had the wind in their favour.
A fortunate ricochet saw the ball fly past Invicta’s far post after 56 minutes when a Kessell clearance came back off a Harrow attacker and Albert Adomah sent in a dangerous ball from the right which just evaded everybody in the middle a minute later.
At the other end, Remy headed wide in the middle when Corbett picked him out from the left hand side on the hour.
Harrow introduced substitute Jonathan Constant, who will forever be remembered by Invicta for his second half hat-trick as a teenager when introduced in last season’s corresponding fixture.
But the Folkestone side continued to create chances as Harrow captain Wayne Walters was booked for tripping Abel when the striker ran through after 69 minutes and Howell headed Corbett’s subsequent free kick over.
Corbett’s shot then lacked sufficient power in the 76th minute following a flowing Invicta break when the one-time Gillingham and Blackburn Rovers star made a great forward run and was picked out superbly by Abel.
There was a near miss at the other end after 79 minutes when Daniel Nielsen’s throw in from the right hand side was flicked on just in front of Constant in the middle.
James Everitt shot at goalkeeper Nicholson after 83 minutes when elder brother Micheal, Abel and Remy exchanged passes, while Harrow’s James Bent blasted high and wide a minute later when substitute Leon Morris got in behind Lamb down the right hand side and played the ball in to striker Elliot Onochie.
Harrow Borough: Nicholson, Nielsen, Sterry, Walters, Leech, Frempong (McGonigle 80), Bent, Meakin, Onochie, Matthews (Constant 64), Adomah (Morris 72). Subs: Browne, Diston.
Folkestone Invicta: Kessell, Watson, Lamb, J. Everitt, Friend, Okikiolu, M. Everitt, Abel (Sly 90), Remy (Jones 88), Corbett, Howell. Subs: Rainbow, Guiver, Stonebridge.
Attendance: 186.
Sevenoaks Town 3-4 Erith & Belvedere
Erith & Belvedere faced tough resistance against a hard-working Sevenoaks Town side, but goals from Steve White, Mickey Collins and Matt Johnson saw the Deres take all three points, writes Thomas Hawes.
With the wind blowing towards the Sevenoaks goal, Oaks struggled to get the ball out of their own half from goal-kicks and this saw an almost constant Erith & Belvedere attack in the opening stages of the match.
Erith capitalised on the wind advantage as early as five minutes into the encounter.
Vinny Durrant and Micky Collins linked up well down the left wing
before Durrant crossed to Steve White, who had time to take a touch and pick his spot from 12 yards out to end his month long goal drought.
It wasn’t long before the Deres were 2-0 up. With 18 minutes on the clock, Adrian Deane played a delightful lob to White, who flicked the ball on to strike-partner Micky Collins, who had timed his run to perfection.
Collins charged through and his experience showed as he kept his cool to side foot the ball past Jamie Williams and into the back of the net.
The Deres continued to attack for a third, but as the half wore on Sevenoaks came back into the game more.
They were rewarded with a fortunate goal on the half hour. Deres keeper Alan Hughes charged out to the edge of his penalty area to claim a ball that he had little chance of getting.
When he failed to collect the ball, Courtney Rayfield was on hand to lob the ball to James Dalton, who nodded the ball into the empty net to restore hope for the Greatness Park outfit.
However, any hope of Sevenoaks coming back into the game appeared to be over when Erith scored two quick fire goals in the first 15 minutes of the second period.
White turned home his second of the afternoon eight minutes into the second half after a Deane cross was flicked on by the industrious Tom Maycock.
White controlled and once again had plenty of time to pick his spot past Williams from 12 yards out.
Matt Johnson appeared to have put the game beyond any doubt as he converted a White cross with a neat half-volley into the top corner after 60 minutes, but Oaks had other ideas.
Just five minutes later, Oaks pulled a goal back through a Tom Olsen tap-in after substitute Rick Bryce had seen his curling shot agonisingly bounce off the post.
Sevenoaks continued to attack an out of sorts Deres defence and grabbed a third of the afternoon with another tap-in, this time by Paul Springett.
With Sevenoaks in the ascendency and the Deres looking weary, It was to be a tense last five minutes for the Deres.
However, it was the Deres who created the final two chances of the game. First, White appeared to be brought down by the last defender and then deep into injury time Erith & Belvedere had a penalty claim rejected after some good work by Darryl Wilson.
Nevertheless, the Deres were pleased to hear the final whistle and they will hope to go on an unbeaten run and continue a push for the top six.
The Deres are without a game on Saturday and return to league action with a home game against Sporting Bengal United on Saturday 27th.
However, it is likely that the Deres will play VCD Athletic in the re-arranged London Senior Cup tie on Wednesday 24th.
Sevenoaks Town: Williams, Olsen, Spackman, Reeves, Pearson, Whitehead, Rayfield (Bryce 48), Dalton (Bishop 65), Atkins, Springett, Fagan (Barnes 83).
Subs: Cook, Jones-Butler.
Erith & Belvedere: Hughes, Scowen (Crawley 73), Durrant, Morgan, Gross, Maycock, Deane (Wilson 83), Johnson, Collins, White, Nougher (Diggins 77).
Subs: McTaggart, Walker
Attendance: 62
Godalming Town 2-2 Sittingbourne
Sittingbourne recovered from being a goal down in just 4 minutes to claim a 2-2 draw but they will be disappointed not to have won their first game since the victory over Dartford on the 25th November given their vastly superior corner count, writes Peter Pitts.
However, despite Godalming’s lowly league position they have only lost once at home, and that was to Kingstonian so a double for the Brickies (they beat Godalming 3-0 at Bourne Park in the first match of the season), was always going to be difficult.
Kieran Marsh and James Campbell are still injured and Steve Searle is serving a three match suspension so all missed the game but Joe Dowley has completed his suspension and he joined a Sittingbourne line up that included two new loan signings in Anthony Hogg from Dartford and Joe Neilson from Folkestone Invicta.
Josh Willis was replaced on the bench as substitute keeper by Michael Elder, Willis has gone with the Chelsea youth set up to Anfield.
Sittingbourne had a terrible start, being caught cold in the fourth minute when a Godalming shot crashed against the Brickies bar and the ball bounced out to Danny Newman who crashed it back into the net.
They then slowly got into the game, Hogg looped an effort just wide and on 33 minutes he had a corner curl towards the goal forcing home keeper Andy Parkinson to tip the ball over.
Before that Steve Williams in the Sittingbourne goal had to be alert to catch a flick from Shaun Lydon but in truth neither side was threatening to score, this is despite the Brickies winning a number of corners that usually were caught in the wind and easily cleared by the tall Godalming defenders.
Sittingbourne continued to win a number of corners in the second half but again without making much use of them.
However, on 63 minutes Lee Browning had a good chance following one of the corners but he skewed his shot wide.
Three minutes later Sittingbourne deservedly equalised when Paul Ainsworth lobbed the ball forward to Mitchell Sherwood who headed on to Mark Lovell on the Town goal line, he pulled the ball back to substitute Sabeur Trabelsi who let fly with a great shot that Parkinson couldn’t hold then the ball flew out to Hicham Akhazzam who crashed it back into the Town net.
Sittingbourne were on top now and on 73 minutes a Joe Dowley cross found its way to Lovell who miss-hit his shot from a good position and the ball flew wide.
A minute later Ainsworth headed a Hogg cross over the bar.
Ainsworth was in action again two minutes later when he headed a Dowley free kick across the Town goal to the lurking Akhazzan who crashed a terrific shot past Parkinson and into the net and Sittingbourne were in the lead.
This lead lasted just two minutes before a rare Town corner found Chris Boulter at the far post who looped a header over the startled Williams for Godalming’s equaliser.
On 81 minutes Newman found himself in a good position but he fluffed his shot.
Then Hogg found himself with a second yellow card and his marching orders from referee Mr Evamy.
However, the ten men of Sittingbourne didn’t look under further threat and a weaving Lee Browning run had a shot deflected for a corner.
Sittingbourne could have been depleted even more when in injury time Toby Ashmore took exception to a tough challenge and retaliated however he must have been relieved to receive just a yellow.
Lovell took the free kick awarded as a result of the incident but the ball flew over the bar and the Brickies have to settle for a share of the points.
Sittingbourne: Williams, Ashmore, Dowley, Ainsworth, Hogg, Hockey, Browning, Neilson (Trabelsi 64), Lovell, Akhazzan, Sherwood, Subs: Gooding, Spiller, Elder
Whyteleafe 2-0 Chatham Town
After struggling to a point against bottom club Corinthian Casuals last Saturday, Chatham were hoping for better against second from bottom Whyteleafe, in what turned out to be a game of two very different halves, writes Neil Sanders.
Things looked promising enough early on as they tested the home side's new keeper Carl Emberson to the limit in a decent first half.
The best chance came in the 7th minute when a strong block tackle by Luke Harvey put Rob Denness through, but a fine save with an outstretched leg prevented the Chats man from extending his recent impressive scoring run.
He almost got clear again soon afterwards when a good first touch took him past his opponent, only to be hauled back by a shirt pull, for which Leafe defender Ali Reeve was glad to only receive a yellow card.
A good build up down the left then enabled Darren Smith to find Tyran James at the back post but again the keeper was equal to the task.
The first half concluded with further half chances for James, Harvey and Steve Best, whilst at the other end John Whitehouse had an untroubled half.
After the break it was a different story as the home side made a substitution and came out with a more attacking line up.
They took the lead after 57 minutes when a poor touch just outside the Chats area gifted the ball to Callum McLean, who ran on to shoot home from 20 yards with a crisp low drive, which gave John Whitehouse no chance.
With Chatham looking a bit stunned, Whyteleafe wasted no time making it 2-0 from a free kick a minute later.
The ball was floated to the far post and McLean got round the back of the defence to head back across goal for Danny Platel to dive in and head home from close range.
Chats never really looked like getting back in the game after that. The closest they came to getting a goal in the second half was when a defensive header from Leafe's Ali Reeve forced Emberson to dive full length to turn it round the post.
Whitehouse made the save of the match in the closing minutes to tip over a 25 yard free kick from Joe Clark.
Chatham will need to improve on this 2nd half showing if they are to avoid being dragged into the battle to avoid the drop zone..
Chatham: Whitehouse, King (Phillips 63), Binks, Larkin, Boyle, Best, Smith, Douglas, Harvey, Denness, James (Whitnall 63). Subs: Lyons, Winter-Nolan.
Ramsgate 1-1 AFC Wimbledon
An unlucky freak goal by sub Darren Grieves helped AFC Wimbledon steal a point at Southwood, writes Ray Serrana.
Ramsgate took the lead early in the firrst half when the visitors’ defender Stephen Goddard took out Ashley Burton in the penalty area and Shaun Welford dispatched past Andy Little.
Warren Schulz was carried off injured after a nasty tackle by Wes Daly, who went unpunished by the referee. James Gregory replaced Schulz, while Lee Minshull marshalled the midfield.
Akwasi Edusei continued to trouble the Dons’ defenders with his slick skills and put an excellent cross in the box, but it had too much pace for Welford.
AFC Wimbledon had 5/6 corners in quick succession, but failed to trouble Paul Wilkerson in the goal and Ramsgate went into half time the happier team.
The second half was a better game of football with both teams missing great chances early on.
Best of the chances was for Ramsgate, when a poor clearance from the Dons led to Simon Pettit's 25 yard shot, superbly saved by Little.
Rams’ forward Welford had a fantastic chance moments later to add to his tally, but the busy 'keeper Little did well to save the shot.
Minshull and Burton earned there names in the referee's notebook after late tackles on Dons players.
AFC Wimbledon brought on Grieves to search for a vital point and pressured the Ramsgate defence, who easily swallowed up all the problems thrown at them.
Then the freak goal happened on 77 minutes. A Jermaine Darlington shot heading for the corner flag bounced off Grieves and deflected past Wilkerson.
Dons celebrated the goal as if they won the FA Cup final, as a sigh of relief was lifted from the visiting fans as it appeared they were getting nothing from Southwood!
A few minutes later (and it explained why he was sub at the start of the game), Grieves failed to score from 6 yards out as his poor shot went miles over the bar.
On the break, Michael Yianni had the Rams' best chance of the final moments from time to get a deserved 3 points from the game, but his clear one on one with Little was let down by poor finishing.
Erith & Belvedere 0-1 Deal Town
Deal Town dealt Erith & Belvedere a lesson in taking opportunities as they snatched all three points with a last gasp winner in a scrappy encounter at a wet Park View Road on Saturday.
The Deres came into the game with a perfect league record under the new management team of three wins from three games, conceding not a single goal in the process.
The home side missed a hatful of half-chances in the first half and
couldn’t break the deadlock despite all of their domination.
Deal came into the game more in the second period and began to create chances of their own, although none quite as clear-cut as the chance that fell to Steve White with a quarter of an hour remaining.
White found himself one-on-one with Deal Goalkeeper Danny Twyman, but poked the ball inches wide of the far post.
All good sides punish teams for failing to take their chances and Deal did exactly that when substitute Jordan Barnett tapped home an Aaron Robinson cross in the final minute.
However, the goal came in controversial fashion as Robinson appeared to handle the ball before setting up Barnett.
Nevertheless, the Deres should have focused on defending instead of campaigning for a free-kick that referee Mr B Adebayo was never going to give - a lesson in playing to the whistle.
Things got worse as Deres defender Lee Morgan was shown a second yellow card for arguing with the referee about the handball incident.
Deal closed out stoppage time against ten men Erith to take all three points in atrocious conditions - at one stage it looked likely that the match would become the third abandoned game in four games for the home side!
Erith & Belvedere: Hughes, Scowen, Durrant, Morgan, Gross, Maycock (Crawley 86), Deane (Collins 64), Johnson, Wilson, White, Nougher. Subs: McTaggart, Walker, Diggins.
Deal Town: Twyman, Waring, Davidson, Govey, Thomas, Robinson, Casser, Bathgate), Pollard, Davis (Barnett 87), Smith.
Attendance: 95
Folkestone Invicta 3-3 Billericay Town
Folkestone Invicta had to settle for a point in a six-goal thriller against Billericay Town at a wet Buzzlines Stadium on Saturday afternoon despite leading 3-1 with 18 minutes remaining, writes Richard Murrill.
Goals from Damian Abel, James Everitt and James Corbett had seemingly put Invicta on course for a much-needed three points.
But Billericay were to get back on level terms thanks to two goals in a three-minute spell as they again came back during the second half after twice going behind just as they had done in a 3-2 F. A. Trophy win at Folkestone back in November.
Invicta went into the game with an under-strength line up, but got off to a great start when Abel, 24 on Wednesday, opened the scoring in the fifth minute as he headed in at the far post when striking partner Ellis Remy broke down the right hand side and chipped the ball across to him.
Billericay had themselves made a positive start on a heavy pitch and a 14 th minute Joe Flack shot was touched over the crossbar by Invicta goalkeeper Tony Kessell after the visiting striker had battled his way through the mud.
Kessell then saved at the far post after 25 minutes when the ball broke following a free kick from the left to the stretching Darren Blewitt in the middle.
Invicta themselves had a chance to increase their lead on the half hour mark when Chris Whelpdale made a saving tackle on Remy after a good low through ball from Corbett to Abel who unselfishly squared the ball across.
Striker Billy Holland headed over a corner at the other end and Billericay were level in the 33 rd minute when the lunging Flack converted Whelpdale’s cross from the right in a move started by Rob Swaine.
Invicta were close again when Abel raced down the middle when put through after 43 minutes but his shot was deflected for Invicta’s first corner of the game.
But Invicta did regain their lead in the 50 th minute thanks to a brave header from Everitt in a crowd of players when a Corbett corner from the left was headed on.
And as the rain fell heavily on the hour, one-time Gillingham and Blackburn Rovers player Corbett made it 3-1 when he cut in and hit a low shot into the corner of the net to open his account for the club after Remy had held the ball up and laid the ball to him.
Billericay, though, were still enjoying a lot of possession as they found themselves chasing the game and brought on attacking player Lee Hodges for right back Swaine.
The visitors had a ’goal’ disallowed when Holland tapped the ball in from virtually on the line after Hodges had shot from the left hand side when Flack and Whelpdale had worked the ball across from the right.
Centre half Blewitt made it 3-2 in the 73 rd minute with a cracking finish on the turn which flew into the net following a corner from the left.
And Flack struck again to make it 3-3 just two minutes later when he slotted the ball home after Billericay had broke down the right hand side to create a scramble in the Invicta penalty area.
Flack shot wide in the middle after 78 minutes when Hodges went past stand-in Invicta captain Kevin Watson down the left flank as the heavy rain continued.
But Invicta were denied a late winner when Remy headed in at the far post after 83 minutes, only for the ‘goal’ to be ruled out by an assistant referee’s flag.
Folkestone Invicta: Kessell, Watson, Lamb, Okikiolu, Friend, Corbett, Sly, Abel, Remy, Guiver, J. Everitt. Subs: Jones, Neilson, Chandler, Rainbow, G. Towse.
Billericay Town: Worster, Swaine (Hodges 62), Kerrigan, Blewitt, Heffer, Dormer, Whelpdale (Hill 82), Hunter, Flack, Holland, Game. Subs: Poole, Burbridge, Wayman.
Attendance: 364.
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